Improvement in hoop-skirts



- V@uitrit prtent jatent @ffice EIHRAIM ADAMS, JR., OF A'l "LlilBORO,MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 65,854', dated Jane 18, 1867.

IMPROVME-NT I HOOP-SKIRTS.

@te S3-rigore infarct tu in tigen tetten nont mit making pnt nf tigtsame.

Be it known that I, EPIIRAIM ADAMS, Jr., of Attleboro, in the county et'Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a. new and usefulImprovement in Hoop-Skirts, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact-description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,making :i part of this specification, and representing a perspectiveview of a hoop-skirt containing my improvement.

The object of my invention is to construct a skirt which will adaptitself` symmetrically to theiforin of the wearer, and so that the properproportion between the size of the waist-baud and the general contour ofthe skirt will always be maintained relatively to the size of thewearer, whereby persons ot' di`erent sizesmayl always be supplied with aproperly {itt-ing skirt upon indicating the size of the waist.

In hoop-skirts, as. generally made, the difference in sizes is made byenlarging or diminishing the size of the waist, the cifect of which isto ehange...the proper proportion of the waist in relation to the skirt,and a skirt that might suit a person of a certain size would beunbeeoming or nnitted to one of a diierent size. I-Ioopskirts are alsousually made with the bustle hoops or springs extending only partiallyarund the body, leaving an open space in the front upper portion of theskirt, and the hoops or springs of the main portion of the skirt are notprovided with tapes or supports in the centre of the front portion,cniising the front portion oi the lower part of the skirt frequently tosag and interfere with the feet. i

My invention is 'designed to obviate all these objections, and itconsists in extending the bustle hoops or springs entirely around thebody, the front ends of the same being attached to tapes or supportsextending down the centre of the front of the skirt. The proper relationof the waist-band with the bustlesprings and hoops is preserved in thedifferent-sizes required, by forming the skirt on an expanding frame,thus maintaining the proportions of the different portions of thc skirtwith each other in the different sizes.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the waist-bond made of a certainsize, and to which the tapes c are attached in the usual manner, andcarrying the hoopsf. c e are the bustle springs, which extend entirelyaround and are attached to the tapes d CZ in front. 7Ihe tapes el d areattached at their upper ends to the ends of the waist-band, whence theyextend downward in .front to the bottom of the skirt. The tapes d ol areseparated where the bustle springs are attached, but below that they arejoined together, and the open parts may be provided with any properfastcnings. I) b are additional tapes attached to the supports d dforgiving additional strength to the same. When the bustle springsextend only partially around the body, the ends of the springs tend towear out the clothing and interfere with the set .of the dress, and areotherwise objectionable, and by enlarging or diminishing the size of theband, the proper symmetry and balance of the hoop are lost. In myimprovement, the tapes extending down in the centre of the front preventthe skirt from sagging, and tend to keep the same from interfering withthe feet.

I claim as my invention, and. desire to secure by Letters Patenti 'Ihecombination of the bustle springs e and the central tape (Z,substantially as described for the purpose speciiied. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name te this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EPHRAIM ADAMS, JR.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMs, yM. S. G. WILBE.

